ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE paintings by FrAJ Thamburaj SJ

CONTEMPLATION OF THE HOLY TRINITY

"My painting expresses the theology of Trinity through the medium of mudras.It consists of three hands representing the three divine persons. The first hand symbolizes the Father. It is seen in the ‘abhaya mudra’, a gesture of assuarence.The hand is painted green, a colour that connotes creativity or fertility. In spring the trees put forth new leaves and the earth is covered with a bright green mantle. So this is an appropriate colour to express the creative aspect of God. In the open palm of the hand there is a symbol which looks like an eye and also like a fish. The visual pun is very much intended. In the Indian tradition there is a belief that the fish never closes its eyes, never goes to sleep. The symbol therefore expresses the providence of God, who sees all things, is ever watchful, and never tires or sleeps in his loving care for his creatures.

The third hand symbolizes Christ, as is evident from the wound shown in the palm, which expresses the redemptive aspect of God. The hand points downward in the ‘varada mudra’, a gesture which symbolizes giving-self-giving as well as gift-giving. It means that the Son of God gave himself up for us and also that all graces flow to us through Him, who lavishes His gifts upon us. The colour of this hand is blue, the colour of Krishna, and a colour denoting avatar-incarnation of God. Blue is also the colour of the sky and the sea, which stretch out from horizon to horizon as far as the eye can see. Hence this colour conveys the idea of the infinity and eternity of God

The hand in the centre symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The colour of this hand is red, the colour of the human heart and also of fire. The fingers of the open hand point upwards and are shaped like candle flames. The idea conveyed is that the Holy Spirit is the God love, who came down on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The spiral lines on the palm of the hand symbolize the whirlwind (Ruah), for the Spirit came down on Pentecost like a mighty wind. These spiral lines reach out like ripples in ever- widening circles and touch the other two hands on either side, thus expressing the unity that exists between the divine persons. The love between the Father and the Son, which is the third person of the Blessed Trinity, is the principle of Trinitarian unity.
Thus in this picture the whole theology of Trinity is conveyed through mudras, colours and symbols. -- By Fr A.J.Thamburaj S.J.